The gay marriage fight continues on. I've posted on this before, and really don't have much else to say, but I am interested in the ongoing drama going on in Kentucky. An elected clerk in the courthouse has decided that she cannot issue marriage licenses to gays because of her faith, and even as the courts have ruled against her, she continues to resist. Now she says that she will not issues licenses to anybody.
The question of conscience has now become the new battleground in the fight over homosexual rights. Should those who sincerely feel that homosexuality is sin (I am one of them) have to do things that go against their conscience? Should bakers have to bake wedding cakes for gay couples? Must Christian adoption agencies have to place children with gay couples? It's a hard question: on the one hand, it does seem 'hateful' to deny somebody a service that would be offered to other couples. But on the other hand, are we 'blessing' a sin by helping somebody carry out that sin, no matter how small?
As a preacher I would feel compelled to say no to any gay couple that asks me to do their wedding. I cannot think that it is right to take part something that I feel to be sin. Maybe it will come to a point that I cannot do any weddings so as to be 'non-discriminatory', but I do know that people will always be able to be legally married, whether in a church or in a courthouse. Life and marriage will go on without me.
But as I have said before, because the legalities of marriage are dependent upon the state (e.g. inheritance rights, visitation rights in hospitals, custody rights for children), I do believe that gay people should have a legal right to be married and have that marriage recognized by the state. To deny them the same rights as straight couples seems to be an unlawful form of discrimination. I may not like or approve of what it is that they are doing, but as one who still has a libertarian bias, it is not in my power to say whether or not they can be married. I know of many straight couples that I think should not have been married (for various reasons)...but that's not in my power to contest from a legal point of view.
And so when it comes to the Kentucky clerk who will not issue licenses, here's my belief: she should either resign or be removed from her position. She does not have to like the law, but if she is an officer of the state, she has to carry out its policies or resign. If her conscience cannot allow her to do what the law requires, then she should step aside and let somebody else should do the job. Imagine a police officer who is Rastafarian: his religion tells him that drug enforcement of cannabis users is wrong. Should we keep him in his job? Or imagine a soldier who decides that he cannot kill for any reason based upon his understanding of Scripture. Should he continue to be a soldier?
Perhaps the laws were different when she was elected; too bad. Laws change, and even if as Christians we do not like the change, it is our duty to accept it in society, and officers of the law are compelled to carry out that law. If they cannot carry it out, then resign your post. When it comes to a law we do not have to like it, promote it, or affirm it. In our democratic form of government we might even work to change it. But accept it as law of the land we must.
Here's the thing about this story that most amazes me, though. The woman who will not allow gays to marry has been divorced and remarried three times. From a very literal understanding of what I read about divorce and remarriage in Matthew 19 and Mark 10, then she should not have been allowed a marriage license, either, for her current marriage! But the law of the state seems to be that somebody can be divorced and remarried as many times as possible; what of a clerk who held that she could not issue licenses to anybody with a previous marriage on their record? We would not tolerate that, would we?
Showing posts with label gay marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gay marriage. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Gay marriage
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about this, so I will weigh in. I know my opinion means so much to them.
So...what do we do about gay marriage? The general consensus is that it is more and more acceptable in our culture. People aren't threatened by it like they once were. Most of us have friends and family members who are gay. Should it be legal?
As a Christian, I firmly believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality. It's not just that it's not a good 'lifestyle choice', but that it is wrong, a sin. Two scriptures in Leviticus and three in the NT cannot be spun in any other way...it's not just about pedophilia, or about temple prostitutes, or about inclinations. No, it's about acting on homosexual behavior, and Scripture is uniformly consistent that it is wrong. The fact that there are only five scriptures (many less than condemnations of heterosexual immorality, or greed, or injustice to the poor) should not convince us that this means nothing to God. Continually we see that it is an abomination (Leviticus) and keeping one from the kingdom from God (1 Corinthians). It is against our human nature (Romans) and against sound doctrine (1 Timothy). So Scripture is clear about this...it is not a behavior that is acceptable, especially for those who claim to be children of God.
But in recent years I've come to think that maybe homosexuals ought to have the right to marry. It's not that I think it any more right, and I would refuse to perform a homosexual wedding if I was ever asked. But here's why I think they ought to have marriage equality.
-1)If everything in our countries is about 'rights', then should people not have the right to marry whom they choose? The same people who are against gay marriage are the same ones who will scream if you take away any of their own rights. To be brief, let me just say that 'conservatives' really need to work out their idea of freedom, because right now it is a mess. They can't just pick and choose what ought to be legal, especially when many of their desires for freedom (to smoke, to buy handguns, etc.) are especially harmful to others. Gay marriage has not destroyed my family, an American family.
-2)If we have made marriage a cornerstone of civil policy, with many rights and advantages going to people who are married, then are homosexuals to not have the same opportunities? Should we not be affording people equal protection? We make marriage to be a tax advantage...should gay couples not have the same rights? We make it where marriage is a sacred bond that identifies two people as being their 'most important'...should a gay person not have the right to say who should be able to make decisions in regards to their lives in times of trouble?
It's not a perfect argument to be sure. And indeed, it leaves many questions about adoption and foster care policy, about issues of discrimination (which are usually overblown, BTW), and about the right of free speech (since, those of us who believe it to still be wrong are accused of 'hate speech' since we are holding an increasingly unpopular opinion). Two issues particularly concern me: First, what about polygamy? If we have changed the definition of marriage from 'one man, one woman' to 'two consenting adults', why not change it to whatever we want it to be? Why cannot a couple become a triad? Or any number of people desiring to enter into covenant relationship? I can guarantee that this will become an issue of civil rights within my lifetime now that gay marriage is mostly seen as a possibility. Second, what of those of us who do marriages who will refuse to marry a gay couple that asks us to? Or works for the county clerks that have to issue marriage licenses but in good conscience cannot? When will we be sued for discrimination? Will we have to stop doing marriages at all, and just make it matter for the JOP?
The battle is just about over; gay marriage activists are going to win. How Christians handle this will be interesting to see. Will we live and act in love and grace, or will we continue to act in hate and spite? I find it interesting that the real sin of Sodom that got God's attention and wrath was not homosexuality. Rather, as Ezekiel 16:49, it was about injustice, about ignoring the poor, about being gluttonous. In how we treat homosexuals, will we sadly fall into the same trap and treat them poorly? This will certainly not be a faithful witness to Christ.
So...what do we do about gay marriage? The general consensus is that it is more and more acceptable in our culture. People aren't threatened by it like they once were. Most of us have friends and family members who are gay. Should it be legal?
As a Christian, I firmly believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality. It's not just that it's not a good 'lifestyle choice', but that it is wrong, a sin. Two scriptures in Leviticus and three in the NT cannot be spun in any other way...it's not just about pedophilia, or about temple prostitutes, or about inclinations. No, it's about acting on homosexual behavior, and Scripture is uniformly consistent that it is wrong. The fact that there are only five scriptures (many less than condemnations of heterosexual immorality, or greed, or injustice to the poor) should not convince us that this means nothing to God. Continually we see that it is an abomination (Leviticus) and keeping one from the kingdom from God (1 Corinthians). It is against our human nature (Romans) and against sound doctrine (1 Timothy). So Scripture is clear about this...it is not a behavior that is acceptable, especially for those who claim to be children of God.
But in recent years I've come to think that maybe homosexuals ought to have the right to marry. It's not that I think it any more right, and I would refuse to perform a homosexual wedding if I was ever asked. But here's why I think they ought to have marriage equality.
-1)If everything in our countries is about 'rights', then should people not have the right to marry whom they choose? The same people who are against gay marriage are the same ones who will scream if you take away any of their own rights. To be brief, let me just say that 'conservatives' really need to work out their idea of freedom, because right now it is a mess. They can't just pick and choose what ought to be legal, especially when many of their desires for freedom (to smoke, to buy handguns, etc.) are especially harmful to others. Gay marriage has not destroyed my family, an American family.
-2)If we have made marriage a cornerstone of civil policy, with many rights and advantages going to people who are married, then are homosexuals to not have the same opportunities? Should we not be affording people equal protection? We make marriage to be a tax advantage...should gay couples not have the same rights? We make it where marriage is a sacred bond that identifies two people as being their 'most important'...should a gay person not have the right to say who should be able to make decisions in regards to their lives in times of trouble?
It's not a perfect argument to be sure. And indeed, it leaves many questions about adoption and foster care policy, about issues of discrimination (which are usually overblown, BTW), and about the right of free speech (since, those of us who believe it to still be wrong are accused of 'hate speech' since we are holding an increasingly unpopular opinion). Two issues particularly concern me: First, what about polygamy? If we have changed the definition of marriage from 'one man, one woman' to 'two consenting adults', why not change it to whatever we want it to be? Why cannot a couple become a triad? Or any number of people desiring to enter into covenant relationship? I can guarantee that this will become an issue of civil rights within my lifetime now that gay marriage is mostly seen as a possibility. Second, what of those of us who do marriages who will refuse to marry a gay couple that asks us to? Or works for the county clerks that have to issue marriage licenses but in good conscience cannot? When will we be sued for discrimination? Will we have to stop doing marriages at all, and just make it matter for the JOP?
The battle is just about over; gay marriage activists are going to win. How Christians handle this will be interesting to see. Will we live and act in love and grace, or will we continue to act in hate and spite? I find it interesting that the real sin of Sodom that got God's attention and wrath was not homosexuality. Rather, as Ezekiel 16:49, it was about injustice, about ignoring the poor, about being gluttonous. In how we treat homosexuals, will we sadly fall into the same trap and treat them poorly? This will certainly not be a faithful witness to Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)